The Couponing for Community campaign more than doubled its original goal of donating 10,000 items bought with coupons to those in need.

I had to bring you this update on a story I told you about last week. Couponers that participated in Couponing for Community donated 26,639 food, toiletry, beauty and other items last week.

According to Cha Ching on a Shoe String, a blog by Kaley Ehert that’s “dedicated to living large on a limited budget,” as the week went on the original 10,000 item goal was raised to 15,000 and then 20,000. When all donations were tallied, Ehert was in awe.

I’m humbled, blessed, and speechless at the way people (complete strangers!) across the country joined forces to give to those in need. I am convinced that couponers are some of the most generous people I will ever meet.

Ehert has created a slideshow with the photos, 74 of them, that those who donated put on Facebook.

Way to go, Couponing for Community! Between this effort and Stamp Out Hunger, it was a good week for food banks and shelters that are in great need right now. If you participated in Couponing for Community, let us know about it in the comments. Or, if you donated on Saturday to Stamp Out Hunger, I’d love to hear about that, too. We left a bag full of food by our mailbox on Saturday and it’s made its way to The Food Bank of South Jersey.